OKLAHOMA (ROUTE 66)

OKLAHOMA 

Oklahoma is a state in the central Region of the USA. The name Oklahoma comes from the Choctaw word Okla which means red. We are told 26 native American languages are spoken in Oklahoma and nearly 15% of Oklahomans are American Indians, which is the highest indigenous population of any State in the USA.

The weather is not improving, it’s pouring down rain. Despite descending to around 600 meters the temperature did not reach 7 degrees Celsius.

Oklahoma, is with more than 640 kilometres the longest stretch of Route 66 in any state. Time to get our Kicks on Route 66. We entered Oklahoma from Texas at the state border town of Texola in the west located on the Oklahoma/Texas border. This town has been claimed by both Texas and Oklahoma due to the changes of the state border numerous times. The historic U.S. Route 66 is sometimes known as the Will Rogers Highway after Oklahoma native Will Rogers.

Another forgotten road in Oklahoma, an even older stretch of roadway than Route 66 is called the Ozark Trail that dates to 1913. it connected St Louis, Missouri to both El Paso, Texas and Santa Fe, New Mexico. There are still a few areas in northeast and central Oklahoma where you can drive along historical segments and spot the unique obelisk markers.

In Erick we visited the mural honouring Roger Miller, 11-time grammy winner and country music hall of fame member who wrote pop hits like “King of the road.” The Roger Miller Mural depicts the famous singer-songwriter in five poses and shows a Route 66 road sign in the background.

Elk City

The National Route 66 Museum in Elk City, Oklahoma is a fascinating tribute to the Legendary highway and its influence on American culture and travel. A must do is a photo of the largest Route 66 sign in the world and the Kachina doll outside the museum.

Hydro

Lucille’s Service Station in Hydro, Oklahoma is a cherished Route 66 landmark that reflects the nostalgia of the historic highway. This was run by the famous Lucille Hamons from 1941 till the day she died in 2000.

Calumet

In Calumet we followed the old Route 66 to El Reno, where three 18-feet-tall Muffler Men appear in mural form.

El Reno. We stopped in El Reno to visit the Mother Road Monument. After last night’s tornado warning we realized that we arrived in Tornado Alley. El Reno was struck by tornado’s in 2011 and 2013. Nearly 200 people were injured and 9 people were killed. The windspeed was measured at 472 kilometres per hour.

Arcadia is located 23kilomters north of Oklahoma City on Historic Route 66. And basically, is a suburb of Oklahoma City. For us the reason to stop was twofold: we were looking for a place to stay overnight in Arcadia, and POPS with its massive selection of over 700 varieties of soda pop, and the huge 33-meter-high soda bottle outside. It was a great place to stay overnight. Unfortunately, here we bumped into the streetlight in the carpark, while setting up for the night. The following morning, we visited the Round Barn built in 1898. This unique and magnificently restored historic round barn is a testament to the enduring spirit of America’s Mother Road.

Stroud. The town was devastated by the 1999 Tornado. It destroyed the town’s 53-store Tanger Outlet Center, as well as a distribution Center owned by foodservice company Sygma. Neither of these facilities were rebuilt; the resulting loss of 800 jobs caused a significant amount of economic distress to the small town.

Stroud is one of only two Oklahoma locations with an original Ozark Trail obelisk. Obelisks are tall, four-sided, narrow structures topped with a pyramid-shaped stone and display the nearest town name and distance to each.

The Rock Cafe in Stroud is constructed from local rock and bricks and is a historic Route 66 landmark renowned for its small-town charm and mouthwatering homemade food.

Sapulpa‘s history is steeped in a lively mix of Native American soul – the town is named after Chief Sapulpa, a Lower Creek Indian from Alabama – and the early days of oil. By now we had seen enough Car museums, so we stopped for lunch and continued.

Tulsa is the second most populous city in Oklahoma; this city was historically based on the oil economy. It used to have the nick name Oil Capital of the World. Today the city has diversified, and leading sectors include finance, aviation, telecommunications and technology. Big cities are not what we normally visit however Tulsa has a few attractions we wanted to visit.

The Golden Driller Statue is colossal. Standing proudly at 23 meters high, it represents Oklahoma’s rich oil heritage.

The retired Frisco locomotive travelled between Oklahoma City and St. Louis.

The Route 66 Half Archway when arriving in Tulsa is another impressive landmark that stands as a symbol of the enduring spirit of the Mother Road. And the Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza commemorates the visionary leader and “Father of Route 66,” Cyrus Avery. He played an important role in the creation and development of Route 66.

The Blue Whale in Catoosa is worth the stop for a picture and a walk into the mouth of the whale. This area was controlled by the Cherokee Nation in the 19^th century. Another town in the path of a tornado which left 7 people dead.

Cartoosa is one of the largest inland seaports in the USA, linking Tulsa to the Arkansas River and the Mississippi River and eventually to the Gulf of Mexico.

Via Claremore we arrived in Oologah the town where Will Rogers was born in 1879. He was a Cherokee Indian, a cowboy and a movie star, an entertainer. He became a Broadway actor, a writer, philosopher, and comedian. During his career in the 1920s and 1930s he made 71 movies and wrote over 4,000 newspaper columns. He was a world-famous star. He died in an airplane crash in Alaska in 1935. Route 66 was dedicated to him.

This town, also part of Tornado Valley, was destroyed by a tornado in 1991. We spent 3 days on lake Oologah and enjoyed meeting many of the locals.

Chelsea. The town was the site of the Chelsea-Alluwe Oil Field, which produced a significant amount of oil from 1910 until the early 1920s, before it played out. Will Rogers attended a subscription school on Cherokee Land in Chelsea. Our interest in the town was Ed Galloways Totem Pole Park. This park boosts a collection of giant concrete totem poles created by Ed Galloway. It is home to the world’s largest Concrete Totem pole. Totem Pole Park has been a Route 66 landmark since 1948 and is an important example of post-WW2 folk art.

Vinita. This is the second oldest town in Oklahoma and shows lots of history and heritage. The historic downtown district has lots of antique and specialty shops and boutiques. Stop at the iconic Clanton’s Café, a Route 66 institution since 1927. Another must stop is the Hi-Way Cafe situated along historic Route 66; this charming diner has been a favorite gathering spot for residents and travellers alike over the years.

Miami is located on the route of the Jefferson Highway. Established in 1915, this road covered more than 3,700 km from Winnipeg in Canada to New Orleans crossing Route 66 in Miami. An important attraction is that Route 66 runs directly through the heart of Miami. The iconic Gateway Sign in Miami standing tall on the Main Street, serves as a visual landmark.

With a deep history as America’s most beloved highway, Route 66 has played a large part in the history of Oklahoma. Miami boasts the longest Main Street on all of Route 66 and is proud to serve as the Gateway into Oklahoma for all those traveling from the East into Miami. Miami is also home of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma which is named the Modoc Tribe. Just outside of Miami is the last section of the original nine foot wide “Ribbon Road” that is listed as an Oklahoma National Historic Landmark. Although a part of the Historic Highway, this section predates Route 66, having been built in the early 1920s. Legend has it that when the road was built, Oklahoma’s budget was tight, so rather than covering half the mileage, they covered half the width. So, you will understand why they sing, “Life is a Highway.”

Commerce is on Route 66. When that highway was commissioned in 1926, it is the first town or the last when travelling into or out of Oklahoma, or to or from Kansas. Commerce was the site of two notable events. In April 1934, Bonnie and Clyde killed Commerce Constable William C. Campbell and kidnapped police chief Percy Boyd. By May Bonnie and Clyde would both be dead. Allen’s Conoco Fillin’ Station in Commerce is a charming and nostalgic roadside stop that reminded us of a bygone era. Featuring vibrant colours and retro styling It also has several classic vintage Route 66 service stations i.e. the famous Dairy King which use to be the Marathon Oil station.

Till next time from Kansas